Near the modern city of Bolgar the site of ancient town Bulgar is situated. This place is very memorable for me. Back to 1974 when I was a student of Kazan University and right here studied topography and geodesy making maps of this settlement for archaeologists. This was one of the main reasons to visit these places again after 28 years.

According to my map the confluence point is situated right in the middle of small gulf of river Volga. But in the reality it is situated at the southern part of beautiful lake with water-lily flowers and surrounded by growth of rush. When I have approached to the confluence point using navigation by GPS the closest accessible point was on the bank of the lake in 100 meters from my goal. Very disappointed by impossibility to reach the confluence point for my surprise I found a small boat. Perhaps local peoples use it for fishing. Using this unexpected help I come up closer to the confluence point. With the danger to fall out from unstable boat to the water I took the position by Benefon and the necessary pictures to the South and to the North. As a gift to my daughter Lilia I pick up a nice water-lily flower from this point.

Very happy with my successful float I go out to the bank of river Volga. I have made a picture of Bolgar quay with Moslem minaret and Russia church on the horizon. The panoramic picture made from high Volga coast near these sites also looks great. On the left side of this picture the Northern Mausoleum and big Minaret are seen. On the right side you can see the recent archeological excavation. This site have many interesting places, but I can submit only one more picture with so-called “White palace”. According to archeologists data this is a ruins of public baths of Bulgar in 14 century. A little bit right from big minaret on this picture you can see “Black palace” under restoration. According to the history of Bulgar this was a khan court building. When Mongol troops of Bulat-Timur occupied Bulgar they burned up this building with Abdullakh khan family but according to legends, his youngest daughter stayed alive after the fire. She stood on the roof of palace in the white dress. Because she was so pious and virtuous she became a Saint and flew up to the sky. The palace itself stayed for many years as black after the fire, that is why it was called “Black palace”.

In the 14 century the country of bulgars – Volzhskaya Bulgaria was highly economically and culturally developed. Bulgar itself was one of the biggest cities in the Europe. And I believe that near the 55N 49E confluence point one of the biggest in the Eastern Europe market place and river port was situated. This point is really interesting and nice place and rouse in my mind so many memories.